A few suburban and long-distance trains of the Central Railway were delayed on Wednesday evening due to a cattle run-over incident near Kasara station coupled with a technical glitch, officials said, reported news agency PTI. Central Railway trains delayed: Kasara-bound local train was detained A Kasara-bound local train was detained between Khardi and Umbermali stations for a long time after a cattle was run over on the tracks around 5.30 pm, reported PTI. The incident led to a glitch in the braking system of the local train, and hence, with the help of an assisting engine, it was taken to Kasara station. At least five long-distance trains and a few other locals were delayed as a result, officials said. Central Railway trains delayed: Titwala-bound fast suburban local developed a technical glitch Another railway official said that a Titwala-bound fast suburban local developed a technical glitch near Ghatkopar station in Mumbai around 6 pm, reported PTI. After 20 to 25 minutes, the train resumed the journey and was taken to the Thane station where it was sent to the car shed. Some commuters complained that crowds on the platforms and in local trains swelled due to the late-running locals. Some trains were running at least 30-40 minutes late, reported PTI. Central Railway trains delayed: General Manager conducts pre-monsoon inspection of Karjat-Lonavala section Earlier last week, Central Railway General Manager Ram Karan Yadav, along with his team, took to hike the Khandala Ghat hills to conduct a comprehensive pre-monsoon inspection of the Karjat-Lonavala section on the Pune-Mumbai route. This segment, comprising 52 tunnels, towering hills up to 250 meters, and sharp curves with steep gradients, is vital to the Mumbai division's operations. These mountain stretches have the steepest gradient in the country of 1:37 which means there is a 1-metre rise for every 37 metres. “This is a historical inspection as it was probably the first time an official of the level of General Manager hiked the Hill for an inspection which started at 5 am and reached the hilltop around 7 am almost covering 3.5 km of hilly route, after reaching the hilltop all critical locations from Monkey Hill Cabin to Thakurwadi were inspected. Shri Rajnish Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager and other senior officers accompanied the General Manager during this Hill Inspection,” a CR spokesperson said. (With inputs from PTI)
25 April,2024 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo bodies of missing children were found in the Antop Hill area. The Antop Hill police station had previously registered a missing persons complaint regarding this matter. The incident came to light when the victims' parents approached the police station, reporting that their siblings had been missing since Wednesday afternoon. Promptly, the police registered a missing persons complaint. After scrutinising CCTV footage and conducting a search of the surrounding area, the children's bodies were discovered in an old car. Authorities suspect the children were playing in the car, became trapped, and subsequently died due to suffocation. The police have identified the siblings as Sajit Shaikh (7) and Muskan Shaikh (5).
25 April,2024 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheOne person died after a major fire broke out in a building at Jai Maharashtra Nagar near Antop Hill late Wednesday night, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Fire breaks out in Antop Hill: Fire originated from a grocery shop The deceased, whose body was found during the rescue operation, was identified as Pannalal Vaishya, 70. As per the civic body, the fire originated from a grocery shop situated in a ground-plus-one-storey building in Jai Maharashtra Nagar near Antop Hill in Wadala East around 11:54 pm. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by 12:04 am. Thereafter, Vaishya was rescued and rushed to the nearby Sion Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. He had suffered 100 per cent burn injuries, the BMC said. Fire breaks out in Antop Hill: Fire primarily affected the electric wiring The fire primarily affected the electric wiring, electrical installations, and grocery materials in the ground-floor grocery shop. Additionally, it damaged electric wiring, electrical installations, and household articles on the upper floor of a ground-plus-one chawl structure. Before the Fire Brigade arrived, two-cylinder explosions were reported by members of the public, said the BMC. Besides the fire brigade, police, local civic ward officials and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) staff were also mobilised for the firefighting operation. Fire breaks out in Antop Hill: Other incidents Earlier, a fire broke out in a slum area of Navi Mumbai's Belapur area on Monday, an official said, reported news agency ANI. Fire tenders were rushed to the slum area of Navi Mumbai to douse the blaze. According to preliminary information, the fire occurred due to an explosion in a cylinder while cooking, the official told ANI. No casualty or injury was reported in the incident. Further details are awaited. In another incident, a fire broke out in a residential building located in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, on Saturday night, officials confirmed. The fire started on the ninth story of the structure in Navi Mumbai, according to officials. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported as a result of the incident, the ANI report stated. According to the report, firefighters arrived on the scene quickly after getting the information and began working to suppress the fire. Firefighters are now conducting efforts to get the situation under control. As the investigation into the incident progresses, more information about the source of the fire and any potential damage is expected, the report added. (With inputs from Agencies)
25 April,2024 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe intoxicated husband plotted to unlawfully seize his second wife's property by falsely accusing her of alcohol and drug addiction, leading to her being involuntarily sent to a rehabilitation centre. According to police sources, a group of individuals, including women, showed up at the residence of a 52-year-old woman on Film City Road, Santosh Nagar, near R A Bhaskar Ground. They falsely claimed to be from the crime branch, forcibly made her sit in a vehicle, and transported her to a rehabilitation centre in Uttan, Bhayandar Weston, under the pretext of an investigation. The woman's phone was switched off; her daughters, growing increasingly concerned, reached out to their stepfather, who falsely informed them that their mother had been hospitalised due to failing health. Suspicions arose when the daughters arrived at their mother's home to find it occupied by numerous individuals, along with the Narsary Center. They promptly called the police for assistance and then hurried to the Dindoshi police station to inform the duty inspector. The police detained the woman’s husband, Imran Mansuri, who eventually confessed to the truth. With police assistance, the woman was rescued from the rehabilitation centre. Upon the woman's complaint, the Dindoshi police registered a case against four people, including her husband, Imran Mansuri. The other accused were identified as Shailesh Gauda, Abdullah Beg, and Raju Beg Mansuri. "Imran Mansuri was arrested yesterday," said an officer from the Dindoshi police station. According to the victim's statement to the police, "The other three accused booked were those who had been planning to seize my house and nursery for years and had previously attacked and attempted to kill me in 2017. When they failed, they manipulated my husband into participating in this scheme by luring him." "When they kidnapped me and were taking me towards Miraroad, after reaching the Western Express highway, I saw the Dindoshi police station. I asked the people if they were crime branch officers and why they had not informed the local police. I requested them to take me to the police station, but they did not stop the van," she said. "I requested drinking water, and they handed me a bottle, but upon taking a sip, I immediately spat it out—it was laced with alcohol. They then doused me with the entire contents of the bottle," said the victim in her complaint to the Dindoshi police. "I found myself in a house among several other women and girls. They ushered me into a separate room and locked the door, attempting to force-feed me a tablet, which I adamantly refused. Confused about my whereabouts, I approached a girl present there, who claimed to be a drug rehabilitation center staff. The kidnappers revealed they were acting on my husband's instructions," said the victim. "My mobile phone had been confiscated by my husband. When my daughters couldn't reach me and my phone appeared switched off, they grew suspicious and contacted Imran. They promptly called the police, who obtained my location from Imran and contacted the centre. During a video call with an officer, I narrated my ordeal, leading to my daughters being directed to the centre and my subsequent rescue," she said. "On the way to Dindoshi, my daughters informed me that our home and nursery had been seized. Upon informing the duty officer, the police team went to investigate, finding the house ransacked and around Rs. 36,000 missing, which I had given to my nephews for school fees. Additionally, all property documents were gone. It became evident that the same individuals who had attacked me with the intent of seizing my property had orchestrated this entire ordeal, with my husband's involvement," said the victim. "Despite my husband's tearful pleas for forgiveness at the police station, I remained resolute in not granting it," she added. "Based on the 52-year-old woman’s complaint, we have registered the FIR under various sections of the IPC, including kidnapping, and booked four accused, including the complainant's husband. We have arrested the husband yesterday while the other accused were summoned," said senior inspector Irfan Shaikh from Dindoshi police station. "Mansuri is remanded in one-day police custody," he added.
25 April,2024 09:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanNCP (Sharad Pawar) candidate from Baramati Supriya Sule reacts to local women offering her prasad at Khadakvasla assembly constituency in Pune, on Wednesday.
25 April,2024 07:35 AM IST | Khadakvasla | A CorrespondentCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India the capital of injustice in the world. Rahul was speaking at a rally in support of Congress’s candidate from Solapur, Praniti Shinde. “Justice needs to be done. Modi has made India the capital of injustice. He is scared as he knows that the election is slipping out of his hands. Due to the electoral bond theft, he knows he will be in trouble after the elections. This is the reason he is continuously telling lies. But he can not get away this time,” the Congress leader said. Gandhi also criticised Modi for allegedly waiving loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore for 22-25 individuals, which could have funded the MGNREGA scheme for 24 years. “Seventy crore population in the country has the same amount of wealth as that held by a handful of billionaires,” Gandhi added. The crowd at the rally Unemployment was at an all-time high because one per cent of the population owns 40 per cent of the wealth in the country, the Congress leader said, adding that if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, it will create “crores of lakhpatis.” He promised to prioritise farmers’ welfare, “While farmers demanded loan waivers and Minimum Support Prices from Modi, we pledge to establish a dedicated commission for farmers to recommend and facilitate loan waivers as needed. Furthermore, upon assuming power, the INDIA bloc will immediately initiate farmers’ loan waivers,” he declared. “Our Mahalaxmi scheme will provide Rs 1 lakh annually, equivalent to R8,500 per month, to women from impoverished households. Additionally, degree and diploma holders will receive apprenticeships in PSUs and other institutions for a year, along with R1 lakh deposited into their bank accounts, totalling Rs 8,500 per month,” Gandhi said. Gandhi also criticised the BJP, accusing them of attempting to dismantle the Constitution, which he argued has granted rights to the poor, workers, farmers, and backward communities. The prime minister states that he belongs to the Other Backward Class, but when the Congress demanded a caste census, he started saying there is no caste in India, and there are only the rich and the poor, the Congress leader said. “If that is so, why does he call himself an OBC,” Gandhi asked. Gandhi also criticised the government’s lack of transparency regarding donor identities, suggesting that the government had engaged in corrupt practices.
25 April,2024 07:25 AM IST | Solapur | Sameer SurveWhile there is already high-voltage drama unfolding between two Pawars in the battle for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, Sharad Pawar has filed his nomination from Baramati. The interesting part is that he is not the Sharad Chandra Pawar you may be thinking of; rather, this Sharad Ram Pawar is a rickshaw driver from Pune contesting as an independent candidate. Sharad Ram Pawar hails from the Beed district and has been residing in Pune for the past 14 years, earning a living as an autorickshaw driver for the past eight years. He is associated with the Baghtoy Rickshawala Forum, which enjoys support from the local community. Sharad Ram Pawar, an auto driver, is an independent candidate from Baramati There are also speculations among the people of Baramati that Sharad Ram Pawar might have been asked to contest as an independent candidate to create confusion among Sharad Pawar faction supporters. This move aims to split the votes of NCP (SP) candidate, Supriya Sule, thus benefiting the NDA and NCP candidate, Sunetra Pawar. Responding to these speculations, Sharad Ram Pawar said, “It would be wrong to say that I am contesting from this seat to create confusion among voters. I am contesting this election for the rights of the working-class people and members associated with the Bhartiya Kamgar Manch.” Sharad Ram Pawar has already commenced his campaign in the constituency, relying heavily on his colleagues from the Baghtoy Rickshawala Forum. The forum has also published a one-page manifesto, which they are distributing among the locals. When asked why he chose to contest from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, Sharad Ram Pawar replied, “Because I am a part of this constituency. The current MP, Supriya tai, has not done much for the working-class people.” On Tuesday, the NCP(SP) faction wrote to the ECI objecting to the allocation of the trumpet symbol to the independent candidate, referring to it as ‘Tutari.’The name of the musical instrument in NCP (SP)’s symbol has been translated as Tutari in Marathi, and the trumpet in the independent candidate also bears the same Marathi name. That creates confusion for the voters because the NCP (SP) faction has been appealing to its voters to support the ‘tutari’ symbol at the polls. While the symbols may seem distinct, the decision by the ECI to designate the trumpet as a ‘tutari’ has caused discontent within the NCP (SP). As per media reports a total of 38 candidates are contesting from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency.
25 April,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavVoting for three regions in Marathwada—Nanded, Hingoli and Parbhani—will be held on April 26. In these three constituencies, Maratha voters are dominating and it is this Maratha vote bank that is upset due to the Maratha reservation issue in general, and also due to their losses in agriculture in the region. Balaji Wankhede, an active member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha explains why Marathas of Marathwada are strongly demanding reservation. Bhushan Deshmukh, division president of the Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh youth wing, said that the youth of Hingoli mainly depend on government jobs as there no private jobs are available “Most of the land here is dry. Yes, there is a canal, but not all land is irrigated. As time passes, the landholding of the Maratha family is reduced. One can say if one Maratha family held 10 acres of land 60-70 years ago, it’s now reduced to 1-2 acres as the family is expanded. Now we are not getting enough income from agriculture. If the youth wants to study, the family has no money to pay for private colleges or institutes. If we get a reservation, our youth get admission in government colleges with a scholarship and they can also land a government job,” he said. According to Wankhade, there are no industries or development in the three constituencies and hence the demand for reservation is very high. “The Maratha community is very upset with the government and this will reflect in the voting… they are mainly upset with the BJP state leadership,” he explained. Balaji Wankhede, Maratha Kranti Morcha A Maratha youth from Parbhani, Narayan Patil echoed this sentiment. “The Maratha community is very upset with the government. Maratha youth need affordable education which they are not getting now. In the current scenario, our farmer families can’t manage to send the youth for higher education. Also in these three constituencies, there is no industrialisation so we hardly get jobs. There are cases where even those with post-graduate degrees are not getting jobs. For this reason, Marathas are demanding reservations,” Patil told mid-day. Bhushan Deshmukh, division president of the youth wing of Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh said that the youth of Hingoli mainly depend on government jobs as there is no possibility of private jobs. “Also, the Maratha community is mainly known for agriculture, but now people don’t want to depend on agriculture as there is no guaranteed income. So the demand for reservations is high in the region,” Deshmukh added. Percentage share Constituency Maratha votersHingoli 25-27%Nanded 25%Parbhani 28%
25 April,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveBJP’s top leader, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and party’s General Secretary Vinod Tawde vehemently denied the allegation on Tuesday that their party had resolved to cross the 400 mark in the Lok Sabha because it wanted to change the Constitution. The BJP leadership has been giving such a clarification in election rallies and campaigns. It matters most in the states like Maharashtra where the Ambedkarites have found resonance with the Opposition bloc’s allegations that the real purpose of ‘Abki baar 400 paar’ was to alter the Indian Constitution, which was drafted under the leadership of Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar. Countering the Opposition, Shah said in Vidarbha rallies that BJP had, in the past 10 years, used its majority in the Lok Sabha to create anti-terror measures, to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and to scrap triple talaq. He said, if voted to power, the Congress would restore what the BJP had scrapped. Tawde recalled that the Constitution was amended 80 times in the Congress regime. He said, “Congress is spreading false propaganda against the BJP. A Congress candidate in Goa—with permission from Rahul Gandhi—had demanded that the Constitution should not be implemented in his state, while a Congress leader from Karnataka had made a similar demand a few days ago. It shows that the Congress has no respect for the Constitution.” He further said that the Modi government celebrated Constitution Day, and BJP’s manifesto was released on the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. “It shows the BJP’s respect for Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution.” Meanwhile, reports coming in from the hinterland said that the Ambedkarite organisations, writers, thinkers and activists, were holding meetings in the Dalit-dominated areas to echo the Opposition’s concerns. Similar reports were received before the first phase of voting in eastern Vidarbha and Nagpur, where the ‘DMK’ (Dalit, Muslim and Kunbi) factor is said to have worked. The Dalits there were simply told that, if voted to power, the BJP would change Dr Ambedkar’s Constitution. In the second phase of voting in Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada, the Opposition has spoken of the same formula. In Akola, where Dr Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar is contesting, and in adjoining Amravati, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes, the threat to Ambedkarism and the Constitution was one of the main poll planks (as it was evident in Nagpur, Ramtek-SC and other segments). The second phase of voting will take place on Friday (April 26), followed by three more rounds on May 7, May 13 and May 20. The ‘400 paar’ tagline that was devised to inspire the BJP cadre has instead acted as a booster for the Opposition bloc, not only in Maharashtra but also in other states. Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
25 April,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreIn a significant revelation ahead of the upcoming elections, the Malad West Assembly constituency has emerged as a beacon of inclusivity, boasting the highest concentration of registered transgender voters in the Mumbai suburban district. According to recent data, this vibrant constituency accounts for a staggering 42 per cent of the total number of transgender voters in the district, and an impressive 33 per cent of the registered transgender voters across Mumbai. District collector and election officer Rajendra Kshirsagar told mid-day, “Though the actual number of transgender voters may be higher, 812 voters have registered under the transgender category in the district.” “The statistics shed light on the evolving landscape of political participation, particularly among marginalised communities. With 339 registered transgender voters, Malad West stands out as a symbol of progress and acceptance, showcasing a commendable commitment to ensuring that every voice is heard in the democratic process,” said an official from the Mumbai suburban district collector’s office. “The broader implications make this revelation even more noteworthy. Mumbai suburban district itself hosts a substantial portion of the city’s transgender electorate, with 79 per cent of the registered transgender voters in Mumbai calling this district their home. This underscores the significance of local engagement and representation in fostering a more inclusive democracy,” the official said.
25 April,2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariTwo individuals lost their lives while one is in critical condition after being trapped in a drain during sewer cleaning work at Raheja Tower near Ratnagiri Hotel in Malad West. The incident, reported at 3.50 pm, was attended to by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). According to Swapnil Gund of P North ward, who reported the details to the disaster management cell, the trio who was stranded in the drain, was swiftly rescued by the MFB team and rushed to the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East. An official from BMC’s fire control room said, “We received a distress call about some individuals stuck in a drain in Malad West and quickly forwarded the call and information to the respective fire station. Three individuals were rescued from the spot and were rushed to the HBT Trauma Centre.” Dr Leena Mane from the hospital provided an update to the Disaster Management Cell at 5.02 pm confirming two casualties and the condition of the survivor. “50-year-old Raju and 35-year-old Javed Shaikh were pronounced dead on arrival. Akib Shaikh, 19, is currently admitted in critical condition,” Dr Mane said. Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of P North ward told mid-day, “They were working in a tank located inside private premises and seem to be labourers employed by a private contractor.” Senior Inspector Irfan Sheikh of Dindoshi police told mid-day, “We will register an FIR against the builder or contractor based on our investigation. It is not yet clear who asked the trio to clean up the sewer tank.” 3.50PMTime the incident was reported on Wednesday
25 April,2024 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariADVERTISEMENT
